Anchor Insurance Blog

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Many homeowners face the risk of wildfires.
Governer
Rick Scott recently declared a "state of emergency" in Florida due to all of the recent wildfires across the state. Many of these fires are triggered by lightning or accidents. They spread quickly, igniting brush,
trees
and homes. Some homes survive, but unfortunately, many others do not. Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for fire. Reduce your risk by preparing now to protect your family,
home
and property.

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of a fire.

Buying a home is a huge investment. It’s exciting, yet sometimes stressful, as there are numerous things to think about and do to prepare for your closing date. Buying home insurance is only one of those things. And while you may be tempted to quickly check this item off your list at the last minute, be sure you understand the coverage you are choosing. You will thank yourself later! Your home insurance policy is designed to protect your new investment from unforeseen circumstances. If disaster strikes, you want to have enough insurance coverage to repair costly damage without draining your bank account.

So how do you go about selecting the best policy and coverage for your home? Here are a few
tips:

Social media is no longer a nice to have. It isn't even a necessity. It is as important as your phone, agency management system and staff. In other words, it is an essential business tool. If you are not actively on social media, your agency is at risk of becoming irrelevant. The good news is, you don't have to stop your day-to-day and become a social media expert to have an effective presence. Here are 8 tips to get your agency noticed online.

In the south, we tend to think of hurricane season as the timeframe when all major storms will strike. Not true. They may be less common, but winter storms, especially those forming tornadoes, can be just as deadly and destructive as summer storms.
Perhaps even more
devastating because we often underestimate their power and therefore are less likely to take proper precautions. Let’s not forget these erratic, fast moving storms have the strength to uproot massive trees and take down entire housing structures.

That’s why you need a plan. Luckily there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from winter storms.

The New Year is upon us and for most
people
it’s a time for setting goals…to be healthier, take a vaction, or save for that dream kitchen. As you make your exciting plans for the new year, remember to consider your insurance needs, especially if you’re thinking of remodeling your home, buying a new home or making other major purchases. As your situation changes, you’ll most likely need to update your insurance coverage so you’re always “insured to value.”

At Anchor, we always recommend insuring your home 100% to Value. Why? Because it is extremely important that you have enough insurance to cover your entire home and its contents, not just a portion of it. But what exactly is your home's value? Let’s dig into the specifics...

There's nothing like the holidays to bring family and friends together. But the holidays also bring opportunities for incidents to occur around the home. Here are (come on, sing along...) 12 things at Christmas to celebrate safelyyyyy... well, we tried.

1. Christmas Trees

Nothing could be more dangerous than dried twigs and branches in your living room. Unless it's dried twigs and branches with lots of paper around it, within "striking distance" of a warm crackling fire and hot light bulbs. Remember to check the water level of your tree daily and keep it in a container that can hold an adequate water supply. To test if your tree is sufficiently hydrated, give a branch a gentle tug. If needles easily break, it's time to water. Be sure to keep your tree, decorations and wrapping papers away from any flames.

Hurricane Matthew was one of the biggest storm threats the Southeast US has experienced in over a decade. With so much time passing, it’s easy to forget some very important lessons we should remember every hurricane season. Below are three things to keep top of mind for next storm season.

Be prepared

Start preparing for storm season before there is a major hurricane on the radar. Check your generators, buy extra water and food, get your batteries and emergency kits ready and take whatever steps you need to prepare your home quickly. All of your supplies are things that you will eventually use anyway, even if the storm doesn’t hit. Spending the time and extra money to be prepared is smart, not wasteful.

Also, make sure everyone in your family knows your escape and evacuation plans before the storm strikes. Don't take it for granted that everyone knows what to do.

Thanksgiving is an American tradition. It’s a time when family and friends come together to share stories over a big turkey dinner with all the fixings. So it makes sense that thanksgiving is also the peak day of the year for cooking fires. And with so many people on the roads, car accident rates increase. But with a little planning and thoughtfulness, you can avoid these Thanksgiving Day hazards. This year, ensure your Thanksgiving is safe and happy by following these easy tips…

Don’t be tricked this Halloween. Beware of hidden exclusions and limitations in your home insurance policy.

When comparing homeowners insurance policies, it’s rarely apples to apples. Coverages can vary greatly from one policy to the next. And sometimes, policies contain special provisions that exclude or limit your coverage in certain situations, like when there’s a hurricane. What you save on premiums up front may end up costing you a lot of money when it comes time to file a claim. Not to mention the stress and surprise of finding out you’re not covered when you thought you were.

Copyright 2016 Anchor Insurance. All Rights Reserved. Insurance products are issued and underwritten by Anchor Property & Casualty Insurance Company or Anchor Specialty Insurance Company. Issuance of coverage is subject to underwriting review and approval. Products may not be available in all states.